Cello Evolution: Rachel Mercer
Friday, February 12 at 8 pm
$20; $10 Students
Having released a critically acclaimed recording of the complete Bach Suites on the 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius cello from the Canada Council for the Arts Instrument Bank, Canadian cellist Rachel Mercer presents this work then forges forward through the evolution of the cello to the modern day, featuring a current project of commissioning solo cello works by musicians from other genres; jazz, world, pop.
Program
Johann Sebastian Bach Suite for Solo Cello
Gaspar Cassado Solo Suite
Andrew Downing viyolonsel semai (2015)
Darren Sigesmund Solo Suite 2016 *World Premiere
RACHEL MERCER, CELLO
Described as a "pure chamber musician" (Globe and Mail) creating "moments of pure magic" (Toronto Star), Canadian cellist Rachel Mercer has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician across five continents. Grand prize winner of the 2001 Vriendenkrans Competition in Amsterdam, Rachel is cellist of Ensemble Made In Canada, the Mercer-Park Duo, the Seiler Trio, the Art of Time Ensemble, and is Artistic Director of the "5 at the First" Chamber Music Series in Hamilton. She has appeared as guest principal cello with the Canadian Opera Company, National Arts Centre, Group of 27 and Munich Chamber orchestras, and joined the National Arts Centre Orchestra as Associate Principal Cello and Acting Guest Principal in January 2016.
Rachel has given masterclasses across North America, South Africa and in Israel and is currently Artist-in-Residence at Western University in London ON. An advocate for new Canadian music, Rachel has commissioned and premiered works including a cello concerto by Kevin Lau, solo work by Andrew Downing and chamber music by Abigail Richardson-Schulte, William Rowson, John Burge and Omar Daniel. Rachel can be heard on the Naxos, Naxos Canadian Classics, Centrediscs, Dalia Classics and EnT-T record labels, and released a critically acclaimed album of the Bach Suites on Pipistrelle in March 2014, recorded on the 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius Cello from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.
Winner in the 2015 Canada Council Instrument Bank competition, Rachel is grateful to have been awarded the 1730 Newland Joannes Franciscus Celoniatus cello for a 3 year loan.
